Straw bindee fob harvesters



(No Modl.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. P. RICHARDS. STRAW BINDER FOR HARVESTBRS- m 0 n2 a 11 M I w M A.

no Model.) 12 'Shets-Sheet 2.-

- P. P.- RICHARDS.

STRAW BINDER FOR H'ARVBSTBRS.

No. 495,121 Patented Apr. 11-, 1893.

a/lggv g 47 THE NORRIS Fans 00.. PHOTO-H1140 wAsnwu'mu, n. c.

(No Model.)

m S R E T R u m R W A R T S,

Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

12 SheetS- -Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

I F. PVRIOH ABDSL STRAW BINDER FOR HARVBSTBRS.

Patent edAp r, 11, 1893.

YIIII/IIIIIIIIIIl/IIIIIII d ill/IIII/II/j A M55 as Tnz NORRIS vzrcns ca, Pnorauma, WASNINGTON, B4 c.

(No Model.) 12 Sheets-Sheet 5.

F. P. RICHARDS. STRAW BINDER FOB. HARVESI'BRS.

N0. 495,121. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

Inventor.

THE nouns PETERS 00.. momur 6 t e e h S W e e h s m s R. B 8 W D n RA A HM w" Rm .D m B w A R. T. S m d o M o W No. 495,121. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

\\ 1. 5.1 r I l? (No Model.) 1 12 Sheets-Shet 7. F. P. RICHARDS.

STRAW BINDER FOR HARVESTBRS. No. 495,121. Patented Apr. 11,1893.

m: noams wins on. PHOTOLITHO WASNINGTON, nib,

om LU. e 6 h S. W e e h S m .S D R A H 0 I R R R (No Model.)

STRAW BINDER FORHARVESTBRS.

No. 495,121. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

"mzunnms PEYERS coy, mmouma. wnsmumor a. c

12 Sheets-Sheet 9.

(No Model.)

P; P. RICHARD-S. STRAW BINDER FOR HARVESTEBS.

Patented Apr; 11. 1 893.

. .JTZZJeHZOr:

(No Model.) '12Sheets-Sheet 10.

F. P. RICHARDS.

STRAW BINDER FOR HARVBSIERS. No. 4953121. Patented-Apr. 11, 1893.

12 sheets-sheet 11 (No mo el.)

P.Y P. RICHARDS. STRA'W BINDER FOR HARVBSTERS.

No. 495,121. Patented Apr. -11, 1893.

In: mums PETERS cc. Puo'muma. wunmufou. 11 c4 (No Model.) 12 SheetS Sheet 12'.

F. P. RICHARDS.

STBAW BINDER FOR HARVESTEBS. I No. 495,121. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

TNE Noam: mm 00., morouwa. WASHINGTON n. c.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. RICHARDS, OF EDINBURG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE P. HARRINGTON, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAW-BIN DER F R HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 495,121, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed February 9, 1891- Serial No. 380 869- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: of the band. Ninth-To provide certain novel Be it known that I, FRANK P. RICHARDS, a features of construction and combinations of citizen of the United States, residing at Edinmechanism adapted to convey the twisted burg, in the county of Christian and State of band from the twister to the needle: also 55 5 Illinois, have invented a new and useful adapted to carry the twisted band up to Straw-Binder for Harvesters, of which the foland around the bundle and place the band lowing is a specification. in position for its ends to be twisted together, My invention relates to harvesters of that and the band out off, and tucked. Tenth. class in which the grain being cut is conveyed To provide certain novel features of construc- 6 a Two onto a suitable platform or receptacle and is tion and combinations of mechanism wherethere automatically bound with aband formed by the position of the needle frame and the from the straw of the cut grain and after beconnected parts may be adj ustedrelat-ive to ing bound is elevated and discharged from the grain receptacles for the purpose of reguthe machine. lating the position of the band on the bun- 65 I lay no claim to the mechanism for cutting dle. Eleventh.-Toprovidecertain novel feathe grain, as my binder may be used with tures of construction and combinations of any cutting apparatus such as is commonly mechanism, adapting the needle and co-opused. erating mechanism to be started by the The purposes of my invention briefly stated downward pressure ofthe straw on the band. 70 I areasfollows: First.Toprovidecurvedgrain Twelfth.'lo provide certain novel and efreceptacles in connection with certain novel fective means for tightening the band on the and effective means for supporting them on bundle and twisting and tucking under the the machine in position to co-operate with ends of the band. Thirteenth-To provide twisting mechanism near thelower ends of the certain novel and effective mechanism where 75 receptacles. Second.' To provide certain by the grain receptacles, the band twister, novel means for separating from the body of the needle, the band conveyor, the knife and a grain conveyed from the platform conveyer the tucker, may co-operate with each other to to the receptacles, that part of the grain which receive the cut grain from the platform conis to form the bundle. Third.'lo provide a veyer of the harvester, to take from the body 80 3o needle of novel and improved construction. of the grain a sufficient quantity of straw to Fourth-To provide a needle frame of novel form a band, to twist thestraw into a band, andimproved construction and meansforsupand to convey the twisted band from the portingsame, also to provide simpleand effecttwister up to and'around the bundle, to cut ive means for guiding the movements of the off the band and to twist together and tuck 8 needle within the needle frame. Fifth-To under the ends of the band. Fourteenth.-

provide certain novel and efifective means for To provide certain novel features of consupporting guiding and driving the needle, struction and combinations of mechanism whereby the needle may be rotated continuadapted to the simultaneous lateral adj ustally in the same direction. SiXth.To proment ofboth the band tucking and band cut- 0 4o vide certain novel features of construction ting mechanism, relative to the position of and combinations of mechanism whereby the the needle frame. Fifteenth.'lo provide for twister is adapted to take from the grain acautomatically starting and stopping the band cumulating on the grain receptacles, suftitwisting mechanism by means of the pullof the cient straw to make a band. Seventh.To twisted band on the end of the twister. Six- 5 5 provide novel and efiective means for twistteenth.To provide certain novel means ing the straw into a band. Eighth.'lo prowhereby the band twisting mechanism may be vide certain novel features of construction brought into action at the will of the operator. and combinations of mechanism whereby the Seventeenth.-To provide means for starting twister shaft maybe so adjusted as to control and stopping the needle at proper intervals. too the quantity of straw seized by the twister for Eighteenth.To provide certain novel means forming theband, thereby regulating the size whereby the band conveyor, the tucking, and

the end twisting mechanism, the band cutting mechanism, and the elevating mechanism maybe automatically started and stopped by the needle, and may co-operate with the needle to perform their several functions in due season. Nineteenth.To provide certain novel features of construction and combinations of mechanism adapted to convey the band from the twister and deliver it to the needle, whatever may be the position of the needle relative to the grain receptacles, the elevators and the band twister. Twentieth. To provide certain novel features of construction and combinations of mechanism Whereby the bound bundles may be taken in succession from the grain receptacles as soon as bound and conveyed up over the machine and deposited on the ground, also to provide certain novel mechanism and means for operating same whereby the motion of the elevators maybe automatically reversed after the elevators have discharged a bundle from the machine, and the elevators may be run back and stopped in position to receive the next bundle. Twenty-first-To provide suitable actuating and connecting mechanism so that all the devices shown and described shall cooperate in due season to perform their several functions as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

Figure 1- is a perspective front view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top view of the mainframe and that part of the mechanism lying below the plane X X in Fig. 3, also showing part of the needle frame and needle broken away to show the connection with the shipper-lever regulating the band-conveyer, the elevators and the lower needle shaft. Fig. 3 is a front View of the frame work showing the position of the shafts, the guard rods and the clutch controlling the tucker slide, the grain receptacle being removed. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section on the line X 3, X Fig. 3, through the tucker crank-shaft showing the position of the trip M and the lever m. Fig. 3" is alongitudinal vertical section through the axis of the twister on the line X X Fig.2. Fig. 4- isavertical transverse section on the line X X Fig. 2, through the twister-head. Fig. 5is avertical transverse section on the plane X X Figs. 2 and 3, showing the upper elevator shaft and the guard rods 0, also showing the shipper lever controlling the band conveyer and the elevators. Fig. 5- is a vertical longitudinal section in the plane X X Fig. 2. Fig. 6- is a vertical transverse section on the line X X Figs. 2 and 3 showing the relative positions of the master wheel, the cog wheel I) and the cog pinions b and Fig. 7- is a section through the axis of the upper and lower needle shafts in the plane X X", Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the needle-frame, half-tube band guide, and needle on the line X X in Fig. 7. Fig. 8 is an enlarged top view of the complete tucker. Fig. 9- is a bottom View of the tucker. Fig,

ing the elevators into and out of gear.

.in Fig. 17.

10 is a side view of the tucker. Fig.- 1lis a vertical transverse section through the tucker on the line X K", Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section through the tucker on the line X X Fig. 9. Fig. 13- is a horizontal section through the tucker head on the line X", X, Fig. 11. Figs. 14, 15

and 16- show on an enlarged scale details ofcal transverse section on the line X Fig. 17.

Figs. 19, 20, and 21 are enlarged views of the mechanism for throwing the elevators into and out of gear. Fig. 19 is a vertical transverse section through the standard 'h" and the shaft 77; on the line X X in Fig. 20. Fig. 20 is a side view of the mechanism for throw- Fig. 20 is a detached view of the forked shipperlever 71. Fig. 21 is a top view of the mechanism for throwing the elevators into and out of gear. Fig. 22 is a transverse section through the tucker slide on the line X X Fig. 23 is a transverse section through the tucker-guide on the line X X in Fig. 17. Fig. 2-1 is an enlarged view showing the tucker and knife in position on the needle-frame also showing the half tube band guide on the back of the needle-frame; also showing the mechanism for shifting laterally the needle-frame and connected parts. Fig. 25 shows on an enlarged scale the divider mechanism in place under the needle point. Fig. 26-is aside View, enlarged, of the divider mechanism. Fig. 27 is a transverse section on the line X X in Fig. 26. Fig. 28- is an enlarged view of the divider fork C Fig. 29- is an enlarged detached view showing the position of the sprocket-wheels on the upper elevator shafts. Fig. 30- is an enlarged detached view showing a part of the lower needle shaft H the tube C and the double cog pinion on the tube, and the clutch on the shaft, also showing the forked lever operating the clutch. Fig. 31 is an enlarged partial section through the needle frame on the line X X of Fig. 24 showing the wedges 0 Fig. 32- is an enlarged developed plan of the concave surface of the needle showing the needle jaws and the cams on the needle.

Fig. 33 is an enlarged transverse section through the needle frame and the needle on the line X X Fig'. 31. Fig. 34 is a bottom view of the machine. Figs. 35, 36 and 37 are vertical transverse sections through the twister head on the lines 2-2, 3-3 and 1 1 respectively of Fig. 41. Fig. 38. is an enlarged detached sectional view of the shield under the twister, and shows it telescoping ITO into the half tube band-guide which runs up behind the needle frame. Fig. 39- is an enlarged detached view of the twister head. Fig. 40- is an enlarged longitudinal section through the twister tube, the twister frame, the twister head and the shield d", and shows the relative position of the several parts. Fig. 41- is an enlarged longitudinal section through the twister frame, and shows the shield 01 and the twister head D in position thereon. Fig. 42 is an enlarged side elevation of the needle showing the positions of the cams and the needle jaws thereon. Figs. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 illustrate the successive stages of the operation of twisting together the ends of the band around the bundle and tucking said twisted ends under the band, and between the band and the bundle.

In each of the figures similar letters refer to the same parts.

' For convenience I will describethe various parts of my machine in the following order, viz:Tl1e main frame is rectangular in form and consists of side pieces A and end pieces A suitably framed together. Near one end is a cross piece A At the center of the end piece A and the cross piece A are suitable bearings for the axle b of the master wheel B. To the top of the side pieces A are secured the standards a supporting in suitable bearings at their upper ends the shafts h, h which lie within the tubular shaft HI-l. Under one end of the frame is the caster wheel A supporting part of the weight of the frame. Curved grain receptacles A are provided to receive the cut grain from the platform conveyer of the harvester. 'These receptacles have their upper ends turned around and supported on the tubular shaft H. Their lower ends are preferably turned around and supported on the twister tube D as shown in Fig. 1, but other suitable means which will support the lower ends of the receptacles in such position that the concave surface ofthe receptacles will approximately conform to the concave surface of the needle frame may be used. Secured to the cross piece A are the curved guard rods 0, which serve to guide the bundle to the ground after it leaves the elevator. The upper end of one of the guard rods is attached to and supports the standard 77.. The upper ends of the other guard rods inclose the shaft h and the tubular shaft H. To the hub of the wheel B is secured the cog Wheel 1). The cog pinions b and b are placed relative to and mesh with the cog wheel I) as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Shafts b and 6 connect the cog pinions b and b with the sprocket wheel 19 and the bevel wheel b respectively. The bevel cog wheel b meshes with the bevel cog pinion b and drives the shaft k At the outer end of the shaft h is secured the sprocket wheel S over which runs the main sprocket chain S, which moves the sprocket wheels S, S S and S imparting motion to the needle, the elevators,

the twister and the various mechanisms connected therewith, as hereinafter described.

The needle frame, the needle and operating mechanisms.The needle frame consists of two parallel segmental guides C having-near their upper ends lugs O and near their lower ends lugs 0 these lugs have transverse holes through which pass the tubes 0 and 0 The shafts h and H when not in gear turn freely within the tubes C and C respectively. The frame 0 is secured to one of the lugs O and has at one side an integral collar C surrounding the shaft h, and against which the spring 0 bears. The needle guides are supported and held in place on the shafts h and H by the lugs O and C which are securely joined by transverse bars 0". Secured to the tubes C and C are the double cog pinions 0 shafts h and Hirevolve in the same direction and mesh in segmental racks on the back of the needle as clearly shown in Figs. 5 24, and 25, moving the needle in longitudinal channels in the guides O, in a circle always in the same direction as hereinafter explained. The form of the channels 0 is clearly shown in Fig. 7 The L shaped portion accommodates the guide flanges on the needle'O" and the more deeply recessed portion accommodates the cams C and C and the projecting ends of the jaws C on the needle. On the inside of the channels 0 near their upper end are wedges 0 against which the projecting edges of the needle jaws O impinge to open the jaws and release the band. (See Fig. 31.) Running around and secured to the back of the guide 0, is the guard plate 0 and the band-guide C That part of the band guide which is in contact with the plate 0 is in the form of a half tube. The remainder of the band guide is tubular in form. The upper and lower ends of the half tube band guide are curved around and fit in the groove around the double cog-pinions G as shown in Fig. 7, so that when the needleframe is shifted as hereinafter described the curved ends of the half tube band-guide serve to slide the cogpinions and the tubes 0 and C to which the pinions are secured, on the shafts h and H Other suitable means for shifting .the tubes 0 C and the double cog-pinions C with the needle frame may be used; as for example, collars on the tubes 0 0 one on each side of the lugs O and C respectively, or the hubs of These pinions are actuated by the IIO the cog-pinions C may be extended to fill the little more than a half circle in length and having the 'front end pointed, and the rear end open as shown. (See Fig. 32.) On the outer surface of each arm of the needle is a rack G meshing with the pinions G On the front and near the point of the needle are v pivoted two jaws O the points of which are held together by a spring 0 so as to clasp the band between the jaws and carry it around the bundle as the .needle revolves. There is on one edge of the needle a cam which at the proper moment moves the lever m to throw the band conveyer and the lower elevator shaft out of gear as hereinafter described. The lever "m also-has a downwardly extending forked arm m which moves the clutch h on the lower needle-shaft H to throw the needle out of gear, as clearly shown in Fig. 30. On the other edge of the needle is the cam C which actuates the rod m which is adjustable on and moves the lever m to throw the tucker slide and the knife slide into gear. They are thrown out of gear by means of the cam m engaging with the lever M as hereinafter explained. The needle is propelled by the double cog pinions C the upper one of which is thrown into gear by the band pulling down on the tension lever C releasing the clutch C and permitting the spring 0 to slide the clutch into gear with the tube 0 This starts the needle and causes the earn 0 to pass the lever in thus also starting the lower double cog-pinion 0 After the needle has made a complete revolution, the cam C strikes finger m of the lever in, throws out of gear the band con veyer adjacent to the point of the twister, and the fork m" projecting from the lever m at the same instant throws out of gear the lower double cog pinion C and the point of the needle having reached the position shown in Fig. 1 relaxes the band; the spring 0 reacts to ship the lever 0 slid es the clutch C out of contact with the tube 0 and the needle comes to rest at the point from which it started and so remains until the pressure of straw on the band again pulls down the lever O and starts the needle.

The twister and connected mechanism.- The mechanism for twisting the band is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 4 and others. The twister frame D, extends transversely across and is secured at its ends to the main frame A. The twister frame and sill A support in suitable bearings (31 the tube D. At the outer end of the tube D runs loosely the sprocket wheel S This sprocket wheel has one end of its hub formed as a clutch d to engage with the collar 61 which is secured to and revolves with the tubeD. The sprocket wheel S connects by chain S with and receives motion from the sprocket wheel S on the main shaft 72 Separating the collar d and the sprocket Wheel S is the coiled spring 01 This spring serves to keep the clutch open and the twister out of gear until the straw wound around the end of the twister and seized by the conveyer band e as I will hereafter protects the twist-er.

explain pulls on the end of the twister tube thereby compressing the spring 61 and throwing the clutch into gear and it remains so as long as the band continues to pull on the end of the twister tube, and when the pull of the band ceases the spring again forces the clutch out of contact. In order to start the twister and make band enough for the band conveyer to take hold of it I employ the shipper lever shown in Fig. 2. This shipper lever consists of a rod c1 supported in suitable bearings d secured to the inside of the main frame A. At one end of the rod (Z is a fork d which stands vertically and spans the tube D between acollar d on the tube and the side A of the main frame. Near the other end of the rod is a treadle d extending horizontally at right angles to the rod 61 within easy reach of the operator so that as the treadle is depressed a rocking movement is imparted to the fork c1 and the fork pressing against the collar moves the connected tube D until the spring 01 is compressed and the clutch is closed. As soon as the pressure is removed from the treadle (1 the spring 01 reacts and the clutch is opened. Within the tube D is the. twister shaft (1. (See Fig. 3 The outer end of this shaft is threaded and has a thumb-screw d by means of which the adjustment of the shaft within the tube may be regulated. Near the front end of the shaft dare pivoted the darts (1 These darts project through slots in the tube D provided for that purpose, so that as the thumb-screw d is tightened, the shaft 01 recedes and draws in the darts (1 as the thumb-screw is unscrewed the shaft (1 advances and forces the darts d farther out through the slots in the tube D. The purpose of this adjustmentis to regulate the hold of the darts on the straw, thereby regulating the size of the band, since the farther the darts project the more straw they will seize and twist. The twister-head D incloses and The guide-plates d project laterally from the twister-head D and serve to guide the straw into the twister. The guard wires 61 serve to prevent too much grain from falling in on and clogging the twister, also to support the straw within reach of the twister sothat the projecting darts may seize only enough straw to form a band of the desired size. I prefer guard wires of the form shown, but I do not restrict myself to that precise form since guard wires of greater or less curvature may be used. The shield (Z protects the point of the twister and also prevents the loose straw from falling in on and clogging the conveyer belt 6 This shield d is a half tube in form and continues around the pulley E under the twister and under and parallel to the twister-frame, as shown, and has journaled in its rear end the pulley e. The straight end of the shield 61* is turned to conform to and slides in a corresponding collar on the lower end of the half tube band-guide C so as to form a smooth channel through which the twisted band is conveyed. Over the pulleys E, e and under the roller E within the shield 01 travels the barbed conveyer belt e The roller E revolves in a direction opposite to that of the pulley E and assists the belt 6 in removing the straw-band from the twister. The guide 61 telescopes within the band-conveyer tube C which runs up and around the back of the needle-guide 0. After the band is once formed and brought within reach of the conveyer belt 6 (set in motion at the proper instant as hereinafter described),the belt feeds the band away from the twister as fast as twisted and in so doing pulls against the twister so as to keep the twister in gear.

The operation of the twisting mechanism is as follows: The grain being cut and conveyed on to the guide plates d (see Figs. 1 and 2) by any suitable means, the twister tube D is revolved by means of the sprocket wheel S connected by chain S with the wheel S as before described. As the tube revolves the darts d projecting through the tube and between the guard wires d seize the straw and as the'tube revolves the straw is twisted into a rope or band; when enough has been twisted the end of this rope or band comes in contact with and is conveyed by the belt 6 around the pulleyE back through the shield d into the half tube band guide 0 where it is seized by the barbed belt C and carried over the groove in the double cog pinion C through the eye of the lever C and up to the needle 0 as I will hereinafter describe.

The tucker and its operation.l will now describe the tucker, the details of which are shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, ll, 12, 13, 17, and 18. The tucker slide F extends laterally and connects with the pitman shaft m shown in Figs. 1 and 17, so that as the shaft revolves it gives a reciprocating motion to the slide F. The guide F is secured in an inclined position on the front of the needle guide O as shown in Figs. 1 and 24, so that the slide F will move freely in a line transverse to the needle and parallel to the shaft. At the end of the slide F and integral therewith is the circular box F Within the box F is a studf having a vertical stem on which is pivoted the barrel F On the upper side of the spring barrel and integral therewith is the jaw f. Near the lower edge of the guide F is pivoted the grooved wheel f To the periphery of the wheel f is secured one end of a chain f This chain is coiled around the outside of, and its other end is secured to the spring barrel F On the shaft f of the wheel f" is a cog pinion f which meshes with a rack f on one side of the slide F so that as the slide moves outward and inward it imparts a rotary motion to the pinion f and the connected wheelf Within the barrel F is a spiral spring f One end of this spring is secured to the studf and its other end is secured to the inner surface of the barrel F as shown. To the under side 'of the guide F is secured the bar f in which is pivoted the lower end of the shaft f. The

jaw f is held in place on the stud fby means of a screw and washer as shown. One end of the jaw f extends rearward and downward as shown in Fig. 10, so as to guide the band up over the tucker jaws when the tucker is withdrawn while the tuck is being made as shown in Fig. 48 as I will hereinafter explain. To the lower end of the jaw f is secured one end of a helical spring f which extends around and hasits otherendsecured to thebarrel F so that as the projecting front end of the jaws f is forced open by the band, the spring reacts to close the jaw and hold the band between the jaws as hereinafter described. At the beginning of the operation of forming and tying the bundle, the band .Which has been previously formed by the twister and conveyed up around the back of the needle guide over the double cog pinion 0 near the end of the guide, extends down in a straight line to the point of the needle, near the lower end of the needle guide, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the band being securely held between the jaws C in the end of the needle. As the cut grain is carried from the horizontal platform conveyer of the harvester (which is such as is commonly used-on harvesters and need not be described here) the straw presses against the band and as it aceumulates moves the band toward the needle guide until the pressure is sufficient to pull down the tension lever G and throw the needle into gear. At this point the band liesbehind the straw which is to form the bundle. The needle immediately begins to move in its guides carrying the band around the bundle up toward the tucker as shown in Fig. 43, until the point of the needle reaches the position at which the tucker slide is thrown into gear. For convenience in description I will refer to that end of the band which is carried in the jaws of the needle, as the needle end, and to the other end as the tucker end? At the time when the operation of twisting together and tucking the band is to begin the tucker end of the band lies in front of the knife and behind and a little to one side of the point of the tucker; as shown in Fig. 43. At this instant the tucker slide begins to move outward transversely to the needle guide and as it moves the tucker jaws are rotated as heretofore described, until the longer jaw of the tucker engages with the tucker end of the band and the band sliding along the edge of the longer jaw forces open the shorter jaw and enters and is held between the jaws, as shown in Fig. 4A. As the tucker slide continues to move outward the rotating jaws of the tucker force the band around until the band reaches the notch f in the edge ofthe tucker slide and the rotating jaws continue to pull the tucker end of the band through the notch and around the barrel of the tucker until'the tucker has made about two thirds of a revolution. If the straw while being carried around the drum F into the notch f, should strike the chain f the chain would be pressed toward the notch; this however would not prevent the working of the device. The only effect would be to slightly accelerate the rotation of the barrel F The open jaws holding between them the tucker end of the band, lie in the same plane with the needle end of the band, which carried in the point of the needle moves in a circle toward the top of the needle guide. The needle in revolving upward places the needle end of the band in the notch f and it is drawn tight in the notch by the movement of the needle and remains in the notch in a position to enter the tucker aws which are already partially opened by the tuckerendof theband. Atthispointthelonger jaw of the tucker engages with the needle end of the band untilit is also forced between the jaws of the tucker, as shown in Fig. 4.5. Both ends of the band are now held between the aws and the jaws in revolving pass under the band and between the band and the box F of the tucker, thereby twisting together the ends of the band as shown in Figs. 46, 47, and 48. The tucker slide continues to move outward and the revolving tucker jaws carry the twisted ends of the band over the barrel of the tucker as shown in Fig. 48, thereby tightening the band on the bundle. The notches f, f in the slide are an essential part of the mechanism which performs the triple function of tightening the band, twisting together and tucking the ends of the band; so also is the curved arm of the jaw f necessary to guide the band over the barrel as the slide retreats in making the tuck, as shown in Fig. 48. At that stage of the operation at which the tucker jaws have completed about four fifths of their first rotation the point of the needle has entered the upper end of the needle guide and the jaws C on the end of the needle engage with the cams C in the needle guide to open the jaws of the needle to receive the needle end of the next band. Simultaneously the needle end of. the band just formed and which surrounds the bundle is released. Here it should be observed that the knife G moves simultaneously with and parallel to the tucker slide. At the time that the point of the needle begins to move upward from the lower end of the needle frame, the twisted band extends in an approximately straight line from the upper double cog-pinion 0 down to the jaws of the needle and there is room behind the upper end of the band for the knife to pass between the band and the needle-guide. The upper edge of the knife is the cutting edge and when the knife has passed under the band and between the band and the needle guide as described, the tucker end of the band lies against the edge of the knife. When in the revolution of the needle the point of the needle has entered the upper end of the needle guide Z the needle jaws having grasped the tucker end of the band press the band against the knife and the band is cut off below the point where the jaws seized it and the needle as it revolves eeaiai carries the band around to form the tie for another bundle. After the band is out on the jaws continue to move, making one or more complete turnsth ereby twisting together the ends of the band as clearly shown in Fig. 48. The number .of turns made by the jaws controls the number of twists made in the band and a greater or less number of turns may be made depending upon the distance traversed by the slide F and the number of turns of the chain f around the barrel F As soon as the ends of the band are twisted together and tucked as above described the tucker slide and knife simultaneously begin to withdraw to their first position. At this stage of the operation the tucker lies under the band and between the band and the bundle, and both ends of the band are held between the jaws of the tucker. As the tucker slide withdraws, the band slips over the tucker and the ends held by the tucker are 'drawn under the band as shown in Fig. 49,

and as the tucker slidecontinues to withdraw it pulls the ends of the band from the jaws of the tucker andthe binding of the bundle is then complete. The jaws seize both ends of the band above the bundle, and in revolving twist the ends above the bundle and on top of the tucker box F andin withdrawing, tuck the twisted ends between the bundle and the band in the same direction as the withdrawal motion of the tucker, in contradistinction to tuckers of that class in which the tuck is made as the tucker moves outward and is liable to be pulled out by the withdrawal movement of the tucker.

I am aware that a twister has been used to twist together the ends of a band around a bundle, so has a compresser been used to tighten the band, a tucker to tuck the twisted ends under the band, each of these functions being performed by a separate mechanism, and a co-operation of all the mechanism being necessary to complete the tightening, the twisting together of the ends, and the tucking. I accomplish all these results in a superior manner, by one mechanism; viz, the tucker, which I have described.

Themechanismforstartingandstoppingthe tucker and knife slide which I will now describe, is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3. The shaft m supported in suitable bearings on the standards a, has near one end a sprocket wheel S running loose on the shaft and con nected by a sprocket chain S with the sprocket wheel I), as shown in Figs. 1 and 34:. The hub of the wheel S is notched to engage with the clutch sleeve M sliding on the shaft m Integral with the clutch sleeve M is a circumferential wedge or cam in. To the outer end of the shaft in is secured a crank M connected by the rod 9 with the knife and tucker slide G as already described. Secured to the standard ais a forked spring 171, which straddles the shaft m and presses against the end of the clutch sleeve M the longer fork of the spring 0% extends do IOC IIO

ward and presses against the lower arm of the tripping lever 111 which is fulcrumed on the block m secured to the standard a and holds the upper end of the lever in contact with the periphery of the clutch collar M so that as the clutch collar revolves when engaged with the hub of the wheel 8", the Wedge m, engages with the end of the lever m this lever does not have lateral movement, but the clutch collar slides on the shaft. Hence when the Wedge is in contact with the lever the clutch collar M slides on the shaft and disengages the clutch while such contact lasts. As soon as the lever is disengaged the spring an, reacts to close the clutch. The lever m, which has a projecting finger 111. has its fulcrum m on the main frame and is moved by the rod on which is adj ustably connected with said lever and one end of which enters an opening in the needle frame and engages with the cam 0 on the edge of the needle.

In operation, when in the revolution of the needle the cam O engages with the end of the rod m the rod is pushed outward and moves the lever an, on its fulcrum so as to cause the finger m to press against the upper end of the leverm disengaging the lever from the wedge m, and permitting the clutch sleeve M to engage with the notched hub of the sprocket wheel S, thereby bringing into action the shaft m which continues to revolve until the wedge m, again coming around engages with the end of the lever m (which by this time has by the pressure of the spring m been returned to its first position), and slides the clutch collar to disengage the clutch and stop the shaft. The position of the wedge m, on the clutch collar M is such that the shaft comes to rest when the crank m completes its full inward throw as shown in Figs. 1 and 17. As soon as the band ends are withdrawn from the jaws of the tucker, as shown in Fig. 49 the tucker jaws actuated by the spring within the barrel move back to theirfirst position. as shown in Fig. 43 in readiness to begin tying another bundle.

The knife and connected parts.The details of the knife are clearly shown in Figs. 17, 18, 22 and 23. Both prongs g, g of the slide G are connected with the knife blade G and the slide F by means of the pin 9 which forms the pivot on which both prongs turn. The knife blade moves in the upper channel 9 and the tucker slide moves in the lower channel g of the guide F. The slide G slides on the rod g so as to adjust the length of the knife-connection to the position of the needle-frame as the needle-frame is shifted as hereinafter explained, and is secured in place by the clamping screw 9 The operation of the knife and the tuckerslide is as follows: By means of mechanism hereinafter described the needle at the proper instant throws into gear the sprocket-wheel b and the chain S10 moving in the direction indicated by the arrow revolves the sprocketwheel S and by means of the crank-shaft m imparts a reciprocating motion to the slide G the connected blade G and the tuckerslide F so that the blade G and the tuckerslide F at one end of the stroke will occupy the position shown in Fig. 17 and at the other end of the stroke will occupy the position indicated by dotted lines in the same figure, and will lie across the central opening in the needle guide. In other words the knife is at one end of the throw in position to cutoff the band, and at the other end of the throw is withdrawn out of the way of the band. In operation when the knife rests at the outward limit of the'throw the band is cut by being pressed by the needle against the upper edge of the knife. After the band is cut the knife is withdrawn, a new band is carried down, and the knife is moved outward in position to cut the new band.

The elevator and connected mechanism. The elevators consist of parallel sprocketchains H having forked conveyers H as shown in Fig. 1,and running over the sprocketwheels h h and 71 on the tubular shafts H H and H The tubular shafts H turn freely on the shaft 72. Within the tubular shafts H H and H are shafts h h and 71. to which are secured the sprocket-wheels S S and S revolving in the direction indicated by the arrows y 3 g respectively. In order that the elevator chains H may rhn alternately up and down as described, it is necessary for the shaft 72 to. revolve in a direction contrary to that of the shaft h This I accomplish by placing on the shafts h and h other sprocketwheels S and S respectively as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 29. runs loose on the shaft. The other sprocket Wheels are secured to the shafts. The sprocket-chain S connects the sprocket-wheels S and S The sprocket-chain S revolves the sprocket-wheel S in the direction indicated by arrow, and the sprocket wheel S also secured to the shaft h revolves in the same direction and by means of the chain S turns in the same direction sprocket-wheel S and the shaft h to which it is secured. The" sprocket-Wheel S is an idler and serves only to keep the sprocket-chain S in line; The elevators are set in motion by a trip connected with the needle as I will hereinafter explain; they begin to move upward simultaneously with the needle, and assist the needle in compressing the grain into a bundle and bringing it up in position to make the tuck. As soon as the bundle is formed and tucked the elevators continuing to move upward carry the bundle up over the machine and deposit it on the guards O whence it falls to the ground. To start the elevators at the proper moment to run up and carry the bundle over the machine and upon the rods 0, I

employ the mechanism which I will now describe. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) Connected to the rod m is the projecting forked arm m the fork of which spans the clutch h sliding on the shaft h under the'lever m is a spring The sprocket-wheel S m which reacts to move the lever. When the needle is at rest the point of the lever m rests on top of the cam When the needle begins to move the cam C slides from under the point of the lever m" permitting the spring m to react to throw the lever and by means of the connecting rod 1% and arm m slide the clutch 72, into contact with the shaft of the sprocket-wheels h which run the elevator chainsupward until their motion is reversed by the means which I will now describe: To reverse the motion of the elevators a pin h on the sprocket chain H (see Fig. 1) projects sidewise and when the pin reaches the top of the sprocket-wheel on the tubular shaft H it strikes a trip h which moves a clutch, as I will hereinafter explain,

throws the sprocket wheels on the upper shaft H into gear and reverses the motion of the sprocket wheels h The mechanism for reversing the motion of the elevators is shown in Figs. 19, 20, 20 and 21. The clutch h slides on the shaft h and has on its inside a feather which slides in a corresponding groove in the shaft h so that the clutch revolves with the shaft. WVhen not in gear the shaft h revolves freely within the tube H. The fork h is fulcrumed in the standard h as shown and its upper end projects through the slot in the trip h so that as the trip turns in the direction shown by arrow it imparts motion to the forked lever h to close the clutch and throw the sprocket wheel 77. into gear. The pin h moving upward does not entirely pass the finger of the trip h but moves the trip sufficiently to close the clutch and leave the finger of the trip h in position to be engaged by the pin h as the chain runs down. At the same instant that the Wheel h comes into action the lug 0 near the point of the needle moves the lever m which by means of the projecting arm m slides the clutch h on the shaft h to throw the sprocket wheels h out of gear and permit the elevators to run back to their first position. As soon as the elevators have reached this position the other pin h on the elevator chain H strikes the projecting finger of the trip h causing it to turn so as to open the clutch and throw the elevator out of gear. The elevators then stop and remain at rest until again thrown into gear as before described.

lllechanismfor throwing the bGHCZ-COHUGZ/GT, the tucker and the knife into and out of gear. I will now describe the mechanism for throwing the band-conveyer into and out of gear. (See Figs. 14, 15 and 16.) A sprocket wheel M driven by chain 3 from the wheel b rotates in the direction indicated by arrow. The sprocket wheel M has a long hub and in the hub there is a circumferential groove m and the end of the hub is notched so as to engage With the clutch m which is secured to the shaft M The shaft M runs parallel to the front piece of the main frame A and its ends are journaledz-one end in the cross bar A of the main frame and the other in abracket projecting from the front piece of the main frame A. A yoke M surrounds the hub and slides in the groove m Within and integral with the yoke are two wedges m clearly shown in Fig. 16 which impinge against the conical surface m of the hub. At each end of the yoke is a projecting rod m. One of these rods extends back through the guides m and is pivotally and adjustably connected in any suitable manner with the lever m (see Fig. 2) having its fulcrum 111 on 2. lug projecting from the needle guide 0; the other end slides in a suitable guide in the front piece of the main frame A so that the yoke must move in a straight line transverse to the shaft M 7 Between the hub of the sprocket wheel M and the cross bar A of the main frame is a spring m coiled around the shaft M The operation of this mechanism is as follows: Assume the needle to be moving within the guide as indicated by arrow in Fig. 2. WVhen the cam on the edge of the needle reaches the position shown, the finger m would be on top of the cam, the lever m the yoke M and the sprocket-wheel M would be in the respective positions shown, the spring m would be compressed and the clutch would be open. The needle movingin the direction indicated withdraws the cam from under the finger m and releases the lever on so that the spring m reacting draws back the yoke to the position shown in dotted lines,Fig. 15,so that the spring m reacts to slide the sprocket-wheel M on the shaft and close the clutch and the clutch remains closed and the shaft in gear until the cam on the needle again comes around and moves the lever and yoke to open the clutch as shown.

The sht'flt'ng mechanism.-The mechanism for shifting the needle-frame and connected parts, is clearly shown in Fig. 24; the purpose of this mechanism is to move the needle-frame,

toward or away from the twister as may be necessary to adjust it to grain of different lengths. In short grain the needle is placed near the twister-head, and in longer grain is moved farther away. An arched standard N is secured to the upper side of the cross-piece A and to the'side of the cross-piece is pivoted a lever N carrying a latch N which drops into the notches in the standard to hold the lever at different angles; this latch is operated bya hand-lever N in amanner well known; to the lever N is pivoted the rod N which is suitably connected with the back of the needleframe, so that as the lever Nis moved in one direction it will pull the needle-frame and connected parts in that direction, and when the lever is moved in the opposite direction it will push back the needle-frame and connected parts.

The details of the divider are shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 25, 26, 27 and 28.

The purpose of the divider mechanism is to separate that part of the grain which is to form the bundle from the other grain which accumulates on the binder platform. 

